Good afternoon. Gas companies will be forced to set aside 20% of export volumes for Australia’s use under a scheme designed to shore up supplies and bring down prices for households and businesses on the east coast.
Under the policy, which will start on 1 July 2027, companies would need to prove to the federal resources minister that their domestic supply obligations have been met to secure a permit to sell to the overseas spot market.
Meanwhile in Victoria, the state and federal governments have greenlit the production licence for Amplitude Energy’s Annie gasfield project near the Twelve Apostles, which expects to start producing gas by 2028 – but environment groups have warned the project will make “the path to a safe climate harder” and put a “pristine ocean environment” at risk.
Top news
Cricket star David Warner ‘foolish’ and ‘reckless’ when drink driving, says lawyer
Snowfall in several states as polar blast chills Australia’s south-east
Alleged suicide note written by Jeffrey Epstein unsealed by federal judge
ARN reveals $22m drop in advertising because of Kyle and Jackie O Show content
Change in Sportsbet policy engulfs AFL identities amid scrutiny of gambling links
In pictures
Tame the water or let it flow? New Zealand is grappling with how to protect its unique braided river systems. The Rakaia River is one of its largest, starting in the heart of the Southern Alps and travelling 150km before entering the Pacific Ocean.
What they said …
***
“Gritty and raw and shot entirely in Arabic, I don’t think the movie will attract any tourists to Saudi Arabia.” – Phillip Noyce
The acclaimed Australian film-maker is being paid by the Saudi regime to make a feature film portraying the repressive state’s narcotics officers as heroes. The Watchful Eyes, based on a real Saudi ministry of interior narcotics case, is billed as a dramatic depiction of the “heroism of security men in combating drugs” – and described by the director as as “a low-budget kidnapping thriller”.
Full Story
Does Labor have the appetite for reform?
This week marked the start of Anthony Albanese’s fifth year in power. So what is Labor’s vision for the nation? Why is it so centrist?
Chief political correspondent Dan Jervis-Bardy speaks to Nour Haydar about the the evolution of Labor’s left.
Before bed read
Stagehands poured Coca-Cola on the floor, Ewan McGregor waved his lightsaber and people did unspeakable things with the film’s Oscars at the post-awards-ceremony party. Twenty-five years after Moulin Rouge broke records, director Baz Luhrmann, Jim Broadbent and more recall making the movie.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: AMU. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
Sign up
Enjoying the Afternoon Update? Then you’ll love our Morning Mail newsletter. Sign up here to start the day with a curated breakdown of the key stories you need to know, and complete your daily news roundup.
And follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland.
Contact us
If you have a story tip or technical issue viewing this newsletter, please reply to this email.
If you are a Guardian supporter and need assistance with regards to contributions and/or digital subscriptions, please email customer.help@guardian.co.uk
